by Bryony Gooch and Jane Dalton
Swathes of England are in drought after weeks without rain and scorching temperatures, the Environment Agency announced, as temperatures reached 35.2C on Thursday – the seventh day of the year when 35C or higher was recorded in the UK.
The government body has declared an official drought in around half the country – East Anglia, Hertfordshire and the whole of London, Thames Valley, Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, Devon and Cornwall, the West Midlands, and Wessex – covering Dorset, Somerset, Wiltshire and Gloucestershire.
July is set to be the driest month on record, after England had just 7 per cent of expected rainfall.
Amber and yellow heat alerts are in force across England after the UK Health Security Agency warned rising temperatures would increase health risks, particularly for vulnerable people.
Forecasters warn parts of the South and southeast England could suffer “exceptionally severe” wildfires this week, after an exceptionally dry June in the most parched regions.
Fire services in England and Wales have responded to 706 wildfires so far this year. Of those, 208 were recorded in the past two weeks, the National Fire Chiefs Council says.
Key Points
- Half of England officially in drought, Environment Agency announces
- New record tally as thermometer climbs to over 35
- UK prepares for wildfires like those in France and Spain
- Parts of the UK have gone without rain for 40 days ahead of fourth heatwave
- Weather forecast in full for Wednesday to Saturday
- ‘Devastating’ wildfires are ‘stark reminder’ of extreme climate challenges, Prince of Wales says
Thermometer climbs to over 35 in new record tally
20:27 , Jane Dalton
Temperatures reached 35.2C at Writtle in Essex on Wednesday, the seventh day of 2026 when the UK has recorded 35C or more, the Met Office says.
Until this year, the record was five days of 35C or higher, which was set in 1976 and 2020.
Tom Lancaster, land, food and farming analyst at the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit (ECIU), warned that climate change was “now taking us into uncharted territory”.
Pictured: Gardens in Fulham remain parched as hosepipe ban continues
18:00 , Bryony Gooch
Millions of people are under hosepipe bans across England (Yui Mok/PA) (PA Wire)
Watch: Blackheath’s parched grass ahead of England’s fourth heatwave
17:00 , Bryony Gooch
Cairngorms wildfire ‘a significant and challenging incident’, fire chief says
16:13 , Bryony Gooch
Thomas Mortimer, a wildfire tactical adviser who has been on the ground fighting the Cairngorms wildfire, described the ongoing efforts while driving along a firebreak on Wednesday.
Heading towards the Ryvoan bothy where the blaze started, Mr Mortimer said it had jumped across the firebreak at one point, leaving a small section of ground on the left side of the track charred.
Crews on site managed to stop it spreading with the help of helicopter support.
Mr Mortimer said: “We’ve had large-scale wildfires in Scotland in the past. This has certainly been a significant and challenging incident for us.
“However, it’s been really pleasing to see how hard everybody’s worked to bring it to the stage we’re at now and also the support of the local community in enabling us and our partners to do that.”
“From what I’ve witnessed, I’ve seen firefighters who are still really motivated to see the incident through and bring it to a safe conclusion, and I think morale has certainly been boosted and encouraged by the support of the local community.”
